One of the first questions our clients often ask is ‘I want to have a bespoke piece of jewellery made: where do I start?’ It’s true to say that the inspiration behind the creation of unique jewellery is different for everyone; sometimes the piece is for a special occasion, such as a Wedding or Birthday, sometimes it represents a person such as a loved one or a relative who’s no longer with us. It can be incredibly sentimental, or simply a piece to go with a particular outfit. Whatever the drive, we use this as the first step in our process and our trusted Team of Specialists and Jewellers can step in to help take it from there.
In our discussions we begin with the basics: the who, when, where and why. We like to explore these key motivations to help us get to know our client.
Who is the piece of jewellery being made for? What are their tastes and preferences?
When would our customer like the work to be completed by: are they working to a set date or timescale?
Where will it be worn, is the item intended for occasional or everyday use?
Why is this item of jewellery being commissioned?
Many clients have some general or specific ideas about the kind of piece they’re looking for or they may have brought pictures to show us of the kind of thing they like. This is all very helpful in the early stages as it ensures we take our designs in the right direction, but even if our client doesn’t know what they want this is not a problem as in our next stage of discussion we offer a guide through the main pillars of item creation:
What type of jewellery pieces can we consider, for example a ring, bracelet, necklace or earrings?
Are there any preferences for the colour of the precious metal we use, for example white, yellow or rose?
Would our clients like to include precious stones or diamonds within the piece and if so is there a stone or colour preference?
Finally we tackle the question which applies to everyone but can be disconcerting to approach: budget. Let’s face it, everyone has a budget be it little or large, and advising us if you have a rough idea or a hard limit is very helpful so we can tailor the items we showcase and designs we suggest. While we realise this can be challenging when we are discussing an item which doesn’t exist yet, our ultimate aim is to provide a jewellery piece which incorporates all the elements our client needs for an affordable and realistic price.
As a guide, we would normally suggest that for bespoke handmade pieces in sterling silver, our prices start from around £300 and in gold from around £500, but just as each client is different each piece of jewellery is different. We are more than happy to take the time to discuss requirements in one of our no-obligation appointments and this is the initial starting point from which jewellery dreams take one step closer to becoming reality.
